Input device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is an input device including a first microphone, an exterior member that accommodates the first microphone, and a first sound hole penetrating the exterior member to be connected to the first microphone. An exterior surface of the exterior member has one or a plurality of wall portions that surround the first sound hole.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Priority PatentApplication JP 2020-065098 filed Mar. 31, 2020, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an input device that is used for gamecontrol or the like.

As examples of input devices that are used for video games, devicesdisclosed in WO 2005/022951 and WO 2014/061322 are given. The inputdevice disclosed in WO 2005/022951 or WO 2014/061322 includes, in itsright or left portion, input members including an input stick(joystick), input buttons, a directional pad, or the like. Further, aninput device includes microphones in some cases as described in WO2005/022951.

SUMMARY

A user operating input members with his/her fingers touches a sound holeconnected to a microphone with a finger in some cases. When the fingertouches the sound hole, noise is sometimes generated in voice data dueto the finger in contact with the sound hole.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is providedan input device including a first microphone, an exterior member thataccommodates the first microphone, and a first sound hole penetratingthe exterior member to be connected to the first microphone. An exteriorsurface of the exterior member has one or a plurality of wall portionsthat surround the first sound hole. With this input device, noisegeneration in voice data due to a finger in contact with the sound holecan be suppressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a plan view illustrating an example of an input deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the input device illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a front view of the input device;

FIG. 1D is a rear view of the input device;

FIG. 1E includes a bottom view of the input device and an enlarged viewof part of the bottom view;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the input device;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the input device;

FIG. 4A is a sectional view taken along line IVa-IVa of FIG. 1C;

FIG. 4B is a sectional view taken along line IVb-IVb of FIG. 1D;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view illustrating a circuit board and a frame;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an upper cabinet section;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a grip;

FIG. 8A is a sectional view taken along line VIIIa-VIIIa of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 8B is a sectional view taken along line VIIIb-VIIIb of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 1D;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11A is a sectional view illustrating a modified example of a soundhole, which is obtained from a cross section like the one in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11B is a sectional view taken along line XI-XI of FIG. 11A;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a buffer member attached tothe upper cabinet section;

FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating the buffer member in anenlarged manner;

FIG. 13B is a side view of the buffer member;

FIG. 14A is a sectional view of the input device taken along lineXIVa-XIVa illustrated in FIG. 13B;

FIG. 14B is a sectional view of the input device taken along lineXIVb-XIVb illustrated in FIG. 13B;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a modified example of the buffer member;

FIG. 16A is an exploded perspective view illustrating input buttons, theupper cabinet section, and a buffer member;

FIG. 16B is an enlarged view of FIG. 16A;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII illustrated inFIG. 1A;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view illustrating the circuit board and the framein cross section along line XVIII-XVIII illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of an input member;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along line XX-XX illustrated in FIG.1A;

FIG. 21A is a sectional view taken along line XXI-XXI illustrated inFIG. 1A;

FIG. 21B is an enlarged view of FIG. 21A;

FIG. 22A is a block diagram illustrating a system including aninformation processing apparatus and the input device; and

FIG. 22B is a block diagram illustrating functions of the informationprocessing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Now, an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with referenceto the drawings. FIG. 1A to FIG. 1E and the like illustrate an inputdevice 10 as an example of the embodiment. In the following description,in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1D, X1 and X2 respectively indicate a right directionand a left direction, Y1 and Y2 respectively indicate a forwarddirection and a rearward direction, and Z1 and Z2 respectively indicatean upward direction and a downward direction. Note that, thesedirections are defined for descriptions of shapes and relativepositional relations of elements (parts, members, and portions) of theinput device 10, and are not intended to limit a posture of the inputdevice 10.

The input device 10 is used as an input device for an informationprocessing apparatus 90 (see FIG. 22A; for example, video game console)having a game program execution function, a moving image reproductionfunction, a communication function via the Internet, and the like. Theinput device 10 can communicate with the information processingapparatus 90 in a wired or wireless manner, and transmits a signal basedon an operation made by a user on the input device 10 to the informationprocessing apparatus 90. The input device 10 incorporates varioussensors (acceleration sensor, gyro sensor, and the like) that are usedfor detecting a posture or a motion of the input device 10, a battery,and the like.

Further, the input device 10 includes a first microphone 8A and a secondmicrophone 8B (see FIG. 9) for acquiring spoken voice of the user, and aspeaker 4 (see FIG. 1A). Voice data acquired through the microphones 8Aand 8B is transmitted to the information processing apparatus 90 to beused in voice recognition processing or voice chat (voice communication)with other users. The other users' voice data is output from a speakerconnected to the information processing apparatus 90 or the built-inspeaker 4 of the input device 10.

[Input Member]

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the input device 10 includes, in its leftportion and right portion, a left held section 10L and a right heldsection 10R, respectively, that the user holds with his/her hands. Theheld sections 10L and 10R are separated from each other in a left-rightdirection, and a device center section 10M is formed between frontportions of the held sections 10L and 10R. The held sections 10L and 10Rmay each include a grip 12 extending rearward beyond a rear edge of thedevice center section 10M. A size of the device center section 10M in aforward-rearward direction may be the same as those of the held sections10L and 10R. In this case, the held sections 10L and 10R may not includethe grips 12 extending rearward.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, a plurality of input members that the useroperates with his/her fingers are provided on upper surfaces of frontportions of the held sections 10L and 10R. Specifically, a plurality ofinput buttons 35 are provided on the upper surface of the front portionof the right held section 10R. For example, the four input buttons 35are disposed at end portions of a cross. Further, a cross-shapeddirectional pad (cross button) 19 is disposed on the upper surface ofthe front portion of the left held section 10L. As illustrated in FIG.1A, the input device 10 may include input buttons 17 on left and rightsides of a front portion of an input member 20. Moreover, the heldsections 10L and 10R may each include input buttons 15 and 16 (see FIG.1C) on their front surfaces. The input buttons 15 and 16 are arranged inan upward-downward direction. The input button 16 on the lower side is atrigger button supported to be movable in the forward-rearward directionabout an axis, for example. On a rear side of the input button 16, anactuator 6 (see FIG. 1B) configured to induce a reaction force to amotion of the input button 16 may be disposed.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the input device 10 may include input sticks31. The input sticks 31 are disposed on left and right sides of a rearportion of the device center section 10M, for example. The input sticks31 can each tilt in its radial direction or tilt and pivot around acenter line of an initial position. The input sticks 31 may each besupported to be movable in the upward-downward direction, therebyfunctioning as a button. The input sticks 31 may each be slidable in theradial direction instead of being tiltable in the radial direction.Moreover, the input device 10 may include a button 18 positioned at acenter in the left-right direction on a rear side of the input member20. The button 18 functions as a power button of the informationprocessing apparatus 90 to which the input device 10 is connected, or astart button for instructing start of wireless connection between theinformation processing apparatus 90 and the input device 10.

Note that, positions of the input sticks 31 and arrangement of thedirectional pad 19 and the input buttons 35 are not limited to theexample in the input device 10. For example, the position of the inputbuttons 35 and the position of the input stick 31 may be interchanged.Further, the position of the directional pad 19 and the position of theinput stick 31 may be interchanged.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the input device 10 includes the plate-likeinput member 20 on an upper surface of the device center section 10M.The input member 20 is disposed in front of the left and right inputsticks 31, for example. The input member 20 includes a touch sensor. Thetouch sensor outputs a signal based on a position on an upper surface ofthe input member 20 where a finger touches. The touch sensor is acapacitive sensor, for example. The input member 20 may be supported tobe movable in the upward-downward direction on the basis of a pressoperation by the user. The input device 10 includes a switch 23 (FIG.20) configured to detect that the input member 20 has been pressed, andthe input member 20 functions as a button supporting ON/OFF operations.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, in the example of the input device 10, awidth of the input member 20 in the left-right direction graduallyincreases toward the front. Thus, the user easily touches the frontportion of the input member 20 with his/her thumbs while holding theheld sections 10L and 10R with the hands.

[Exterior Member]

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the input device 10 includes a cabinet 40serving as an exterior member of the input device 10. The cabinet 40forms an exterior surface of the input device 10 and accommodatesvarious parts of the input device 10 (a circuit board 61, vibrationmotors 5L and 5R, and the like). The cabinet 40 includes an uppercabinet section 41 and a lower cabinet section 42 that are combined inthe upward-downward direction.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the input device 10 includes a frame 51.Various parts of the input device 10 are fixed to the frame 51. Forexample, the vibration motor 5R is held on a right portion of the frame51 and the vibration motor 5L is held on a left portion thereof. Thevibration motors 5L and 5R vibrate the grips 12 on the basis of asituation in a video game executed by the information processingapparatus 90. The actuator 6 configured to move the trigger button 16 isdisposed in front of each of the vibration motors 5L and 5R. The circuitboard 61 is fixed to a lower side of a center portion of the frame 51.The upper cabinet section 41 covers an upper side of the frame 51 toform upper portions of the held sections 10L and 10R and the devicecenter section 10M. The lower cabinet section 42 covers a lower side ofthe frame 51 to form lower portions of the held sections 10L and 10R andthe device center section 10M.

The upper cabinet section 41 is attached to the frame 51 with fixturessuch as screws or bolts. For example, the upper cabinet section 41 isdirectly fixed to the frame 51 with screws inserted from the lower sideof the frame 51. The lower side of the frame 51 is covered by the lowercabinet section 42. Thus, the fixtures (screws) fixing the upper cabinetsection 41 to the frame 51 are not exposed on the exterior surface ofthe input device 10.

The lower cabinet section 42 (see FIG. 2) is fixed to the upper cabinetsection 41, for example. Attachment positions thereof are provided onfront and rear edges of the lower cabinet section 42, for example. Inmore detail, the lower cabinet section 42 has, in its front edge (frontedges of the left and right held sections 10L and 10R), openings 42 b(see FIG. 2) each for surrounding the input buttons 15 and 16, which arearranged in the upward-downward direction. A portion 42 a that is anupper edge of the opening 42 b and extends along an upper side of theinput button 15 has a fixed portion 42 c (see FIG. 4A). The fixedportion 42 c is attached, with a screw 49 a, to a fixed portion 41 a(see FIG. 4A) formed at a front edge of the upper cabinet section 41,for example.

The fixed portions 42 c and 41 a are formed such that the screw 49 a isinserted in an oblique direction with respect to the upward-downwarddirection. With this, the screw 49 a is prevented from interfering withthe trigger button 16 when being inserted. The input button 15 coversfront sides of the fixed portions 42 c and 41 a and the screw 49 a toprevent these components from being exposed. The input button 15 may beattached to the cabinet 40 with engagement portions (for example, clawportions) formed on the input button 15.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4B, the lower cabinet section42 has fixed portions 42 e in its rear edge (rear edges of the left andright held sections 10L and 10R). The fixed portions 42 e are eachfixed, with a screw 49 b, to a fixed portion 41 f formed at a rear edgeof the upper cabinet section 41. The frame 51 has, in its rear edge,fixed portions 51 a protruding rearward. The fixed portions 51 a areeach fixed to the fixed portion 41 f of the upper cabinet section 41together with the fixed portion 42 e of the lower cabinet section 42.

An attachment structure of the cabinet sections 41 and 42 is not limitedto the example in the input device 10. For example, the frame 51 may befixed to the lower cabinet section 42 with screws, and the upper cabinetsection 41 may be fixed to the lower cabinet section 42 with screws. Inanother example, the cabinet sections 41 and 42 may each be attached tothe frame 51 such that the two cabinet sections 41 and 42 are indirectlyfixed to each other through the frame 51. In still another example, theinput device 10 may not include the frame 51. In this case, the uppercabinet section 41 and the lower cabinet section 42 may be directlyfixed to each other.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A and FIG. 2, the input device 10 includes, asone of its exterior members, a cover 45 attached to an exterior surfaceof the cabinet 40. The cover 45 has a right cover side portion 45Rserving as a part of an exterior surface of the right held section 10R,a left cover side portion 45L serving as a part of an exterior surfaceof the left held section 10L, and a cover center portion 45M thatconnects the left and right cover side portions 45L and 45R and servesas a part of an exterior surface of the device center section 10M.

As illustrated in FIG. 4B, the cover 45 includes a fixture cover 45 acovering the fixture fixing the lower cabinet section 42 (specifically,the screw 49 b) and the fixed portions 42 e and 41 f. The fixture cover45 a is positioned on a rear side of the screw 49 b and the fixedportions 42 e, 41 f, and 51 a to cover these components. The fixturecover 45 a is provided to each of the left and right cover side portions45L and 45R. As illustrated in FIG. 1D and FIG. 4B, the fixture cover 45a is positioned on the rear side of the left or right held section 10Lor 10R and attached to the rear edge of the held section 10L or 10R(that is, the rear edge of the left or right grip 12).

The screws 49 b are not exposed on the exterior surface of the inputdevice 10 in this way, so that an appearance of the input device 10 canbe enhanced. Further, since the left and right screws 49 b are coveredby the single cover 45, the number of parts can be reduced, and assemblyof the input device 10 can thus be simplified.

The screw 49 b is inserted into the fixed portion 42 e of the lowercabinet section 42 and the fixed portion 41 f of the upper cabinetsection 41 in the upward-downward direction. A part (lower part) of thefixture cover 45 a is positioned below the fixed portions 42 e and 41 f.That is, the part (lower part) of the fixture cover 45 a is positionedin a pull-out direction of the screw 49 b from the fixed portions 42 eand 41 f. Another part (upper part) of the fixture cover 45 a ispositioned on a rear side of the fixed portions 42 e and 41 f.

As illustrated in FIG. 1A, the cover side portions 45L and 45R areattached to inner side surfaces of the left and right grips 12. Theright fixture cover 45 a is bent at a rear edge of the right cover sideportion 45R to be positioned on the rear side of the right grip 12. Theleft fixture cover 45 a is bent at a rear edge of the left cover sideportion 45L to be positioned on the rear side of the left grip 12.

The cover center portion 45M is positioned in the rear portion of thedevice center section 10M. The cover center portion 45M is positioned onthe rear side of the input member 20. The cover center portion 45M hasopenings 45 c in which the left and right input sticks 31 are disposed.

Note that, in the example of the input device 10, the grips 12 and thecover side portions 45L and 45R are symmetrical in the left-rightdirection. Unlike the example of the input device 10, these componentsmay not be symmetrical in the left-right direction. In this case, thecover 45 may only have either one of the left and right cover sideportions 45L and 45R.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the upper cabinet section 41 has a coveredregion 41 n that is covered by the cover 45. A plurality of engagementholes 41 e are formed in the covered region 41 n, and engagementportions (for example, claw portions) of the cover 45 are engaged withthe engagement holes 41 e.

The exterior surface of the upper cabinet section 41 has, in addition tothe covered region 41 n, a region adjacent to the covered region 41 nand not covered by the cover 45 (exposed region) (see FIG. 1A and FIG.6). As illustrated in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8A, a step N is formed between theexposed region of the exterior surface of the upper cabinet section 41and an exterior surface of the cover 45. With the step N, the exteriorsurface of the cover 45 is recessed from the exposed region of theexterior surface of the upper cabinet section 41.

In the example of the input device 10, the step N is formed between theexterior surfaces of the cover side portions 45L and 45R and theexterior surface of the upper cabinet section 41 serving as the grips12. The step N may extend from the front portions of the held sections10L and 10R to the rear edges thereof (the rear edges of the grips 12).

When a cover is attached to a cabinet, in general, an exterior surfaceof the cover is made flush with an exterior surface of the cabinet orthe cover is positioned to be raised compared to the exterior surface ofthe cabinet. In contrast to this, in the example of the input device 10,the exterior surface of the cover 45 is positioned to be lowered(recessed) compared to the exterior surface of the cabinet 40, so thatan observer looking at the input device 10 hardly recognizes the cover45 as a cover. With this, the appearance of the input device 10 can beenhanced.

As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8A, a step M may be formed between theexterior surfaces of the cover side portions 45L and 45R and an exteriorsurface of the lower cabinet section 42 serving as the grips 12. Thisstructure makes it more difficult for the observer looking at the inputdevice 10 to recognize the cover 45, so that the appearance of the inputdevice 10 can be further enhanced.

The left and right cover side portions 45L and 45R are attached to theinner side surfaces of the left and right grips 12. That is, the coverside portion 45L or 45R is attached to a substantial center region inthe left-right direction of the exterior surface of the grip 12 (theexterior surface of the cabinet 40). Thus, positions of the balls of thethumbs of the user griping the grips 12 can be guided by the step N, forexample. Further, a possibility that the palms of the user griping thegrips 12 make contact with the step N can be reduced, which means that acomfortable grip can be achieved. In the example of the input device 10,a boundary (the step N) between the cover side portion 45R or 45L andthe exposed region of the upper cabinet section 41 is positioned on aninner side of a center line C1 of the grip 12 (see FIG. 1A).

A height of the step N may not be constant in its extending direction.In the example of the input device 10, a height Hn2 of the step N in arear portion of the grip 12 (see FIG. 8B) is smaller than a height Hn1of the step N in a front portion of the grip 12 (see FIG. 8A). Theuser's palms tend to touch the rear portions of the grips 12. Thus, thestructure in which the height Hn2 of the step N in the rear portions issmaller than the height Hn1 of the step N in the front portions makes itpossible for the user to grip the grips 12 in a more comfortable manner.

[Arrangement of Microphones]

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the input device 10 may include the twomicrophones 8A and 8B. The two microphones 8A and 8B are disposed atpositions with different distances to the mouth of the user holding theinput device 10. The first microphone 8A is disposed below the circuitboard 61, for example, and the second microphone 8B is disposed abovethe circuit board 61, for example. A connector 67 (for example, headsetjack) mounted on the circuit board 61 is positioned between the firstmicrophone 8A and the second microphone 8B.

To achieve voice recognition processing and voice chat, the input device10 includes a voice input/output circuit configured to execute beamforming processing of forming directivity of sensitivities of themicrophones 8A and 8B. The voice input/output circuit generatesmicrophone voice data having directivity. That is, the voiceinput/output circuit generates, using a phase difference betweenmicrophone voice data obtained from the microphones 8A and 8B, datahaving emphasized data (signal) representing a spoken voice of the user.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, for example, the second microphone 8B issupported by the upper cabinet section 41 and disposed along an innersurface of the cover 45. The second microphone 8B is oriented obliquelyrearward and upward, for example.

The cover 45 has a second sound hole V2 at a position corresponding tothe second microphone 8B. The second microphone 8B is held by amicrophone holder 9B made of an elastic material, for example. Themicrophone holder 9B has a hole at a position corresponding to thesecond microphone 8B. The second sound hole V2 of the cover 45 isconnected to the second microphone 8B through the hole of the microphoneholder 9B. The input device 10 may not include the cover 45. In thiscase, the second sound hole V2 may be formed in the upper cabinetsection 41, and the second microphone 8B may be supported by the frame51.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the first microphone 8A is disposed along aninner surface of the lower cabinet section 42, for example. The firstmicrophone 8A is supported by a microphone support portion 55 a formedat a rear edge of a holder 55 for a battery 62 (see FIG. 20) disposedbelow the circuit board 61, for example. The first microphone 8A is heldby a microphone holder 9A. The microphone holder 9A is in abutmentagainst the inner surface of the lower cabinet section 42. The firstmicrophone 8A is oriented obliquely rearward and downward, for example.

[Sound Hole]

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the lower cabinet section 42 has a first soundhole V1 penetrating the lower cabinet section 42. The microphone holder9A has a sealing portion 9 b positioned between the first microphone 8Aand the inner surface of the lower cabinet section 42. The sealingportion 9 b is in abutment against the inner surface of the lowercabinet section 42. The sealing portion 9 b has a hole 9 a at a positioncorresponding to the first microphone 8A. The first sound hole V1 of thelower cabinet section 42 is connected to the first microphone 8A throughthe hole 9 a of the microphone holder 9A. An edge of the hole 9 a formedin the sealing portion 9 b is in abutment against the inner surface ofthe lower cabinet section 42, so that the first sound hole V1 is sealedfrom its entrance to the first microphone 8A.

Note that, “the first sound hole V1 is connected to the first microphone8A” means that a passage that transfers sound from the hole of the lowercabinet section 42 to the first microphone 8A is formed. This passage isnot necessarily sealed. Further, the first microphone 8A may beseparated from the inner surface of the lower cabinet section 42. Forexample, the first microphone 8A may be mounted on the circuit board 61.In this case, a sound hole extending from an opening edge formed in thelower cabinet section 42 to the first microphone 8A may be formed.

As illustrated in FIG. 1E and FIG. 10, a recessed portion 42 f is formedin the exterior surface of the lower cabinet section 42. The recessedportion 42 f does not penetrate the lower cabinet section 42. The firstsound hole V1 is formed in a bottom surface 42 k of the recessed portion42 f. The lower cabinet section 42 has, inside the recessed portion 42f, the bottom surface 42 k extending from the opening edge (entrance) ofthe first sound hole V1. An inner surface 42 g of the recessed portion42 f functions as a wall surrounding the first sound hole V1. Therecessed portion 42 f is hereinafter referred to as “protection recessedportion.”

If the user chatting with another user via voice chat moves a fingeralong the exterior surface of the input device 10 to cover the firstsound hole V1 with the finger, an air pressure in the first sound holeV1 suddenly changes, with the result that voice that is transmitted tothe other user over voice chat may possibly have noise. In the exampleof the input device 10, since the wall that is the inner surface 42 g ofthe protection recessed portion 42 f is formed around the first soundhole V1, the entrance of the first sound hole V1 is less likely to beentirely covered by the finger. As a result, the generation of noisedescribed above can be suppressed.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the protection recessed portion 42 f is agroove, and a length of the inner region of the protection recessedportion 42 f (a width W1 in one of two orthogonal directions; seeFIG. 1) is larger than a width W2 of the same region in the otherdirection (the width W1 is hereinafter referred to as “large width” andthe width W2 is hereinafter referred to as “small width”). In theexample of the input device 10, the width W1 is a size in the left-rightdirection, and the width W2 is a size in the forward-rearward direction.

The small width W2 is smaller than a width of a finger contact regionwhen the user touches the exterior surface of the input device 10 with afinger. Meanwhile, the large width W1 is larger than the width of thefinger contact region. With the protection recessed portion 42 fdesigned to have such a size, the protection recessed portion 42 f canbe prevented from being entirely covered by the finger of the user, withthe result that a sudden change in air pressure in the first sound holeV1 can be effectively suppressed. The small width W2 is smaller than 3mm, for example. The small width W2 may be smaller than 2 mm. The largewidth W1 is larger than 7 mm, for example. The large width W1 may belarger than 9 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the large width W1 is larger than twice asize of the first sound hole V1 (a size in the same direction as thelarge width W1). The large width W1 may be larger than three times thesize of the first sound hole V1. Meanwhile, the small width W2 may bethe same as the size of the first sound hole V1 or smaller than twicethe size of the first sound hole V1. An entrance shape of the firstsound hole V1 is round, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the large width W1 is larger than a size ofthe first microphone 8A (a size in the same direction as the large widthW1). Meanwhile, the small width W2 is smaller than the size of the firstmicrophone 8A. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the small width W2 may be thesame as the size of the entrance of the first sound hole V1 (the holeformed in the lower cabinet section 42) or larger than the entrance ofthe first sound hole V1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1E, the first sound hole V1 is formed in a lowersurface of the device center section 10M. In more detail, the firstsound hole V1 is formed at a position near the rear edge of the devicecenter section 10M. The first sound hole V1 is positioned at a center ofthe input device 10 in the left-right direction. The fingers of the userholding the input device 10 with his/her hands obliquely extend from theside surfaces of the input device 10 to the center of the input device10 in the left-right direction. When the user moves a finger along alower surface of the input device 10, the finger moves in an obliquedirection with respect to both the forward-rearward direction and theleft-right direction. Meanwhile, the protection recessed portion 42 f(in other words, the region inside the protection recessed portion 420is elongated in the left-right direction. With the protection recessedportion 42 f having this shape, the protection recessed portion 42 f canbe effectively prevented from being entirely covered by the fingerobliquely moving on the lower surface side of the input device 10.

Note that, the shape of the protection recessed portion 42 f is notlimited to the example in the input device 10. For example, theprotection recessed portion 42 f may be a groove elongated in theforward-rearward direction. In another example, the protection recessedportion 42 f may have an oval shape. In still another example, theprotection recessed portion 42 f may have a cross shape, an H shape, ora T shape. In this case, the first sound hole V1 is preferably formed ina small-width groove portion of the protection recessed portion 42 f.With this, the first sound hole V1 can be suppressed from being entirelycovered by the fingers of the user.

As described above, the upper cabinet section 41 has the second soundhole V2 connected to the second microphone 8B. The large width W1 of anopening portion of the first sound hole V1 in the left-right directionis larger than the width of the second sound hole V2 in the left-rightdirection. Meanwhile, the small width W2 of an opening portion of thefirst sound hole V1 in a direction orthogonal to the left-rightdirection may be the same as the width of the second sound hole V2 inthe direction orthogonal to the left-right direction.

Note that, around the first sound hole V1, instead of the recessedportion 42 f, one or a plurality of projected portions surrounding thefirst sound hole V1 may be formed. FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B are sectionalviews illustrating such a modified example. FIG. 11A is a sectional viewobtained from a cross section like the one in FIG. 9. FIG. 11B is asectional view taken along line XI-XI illustrated in FIG. 11A.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B, a projected portion42 h is formed around the first sound hole V1. The projected portion 42h is hereinafter referred to as “protection projected portion.” Thefirst sound hole V1 is positioned inside a region surrounded by theprotection projected portion 42 h. An inner surface 42 i of theprotection projected portion 42 h functions as a wall surrounding thefirst sound hole V1. With the protection projected portion 42 h formedin this manner, the entrance of the first sound hole V1 can besuppressed by the protection projected portion 42 h from being entirelycovered by the fingers, and a sudden change in air pressure in the firstsound hole V1 can thus be suppressed.

A size of the region formed inside the protection projected portion 42 hmay be the same as a size of the region formed inside theabove-mentioned protection recessed portion 42 f. Specifically, a widthin one of two orthogonal directions may be smaller than a width in theother direction. Specifically, a width W5 in the left-right direction(see FIG. 11B) is larger than a width W6 in the forward-rearwarddirection (see FIG. 11A). The small width W6 is smaller than 3 mm, forexample. The small width W6 may be smaller than 2 mm. The large width W5is larger than 7 mm, for example. The large width W5 may be larger than9 mm.

In still another example, a plurality of projected portions may beformed around the first sound hole V1 to surround the first sound holeV1 as a whole. In this case, a length (width in the left-rightdirection) of a region surrounded by the plurality of projected portionsmay be larger than a width thereof in the forward-rearward direction.Also with such a structure, the entrance of the first sound hole V1 canbe prevented from being entirely covered by the fingers, and a suddenchange in air pressure in the first sound hole V1 can thus besuppressed.

[Reduction of Input Stick Operation Sound]

The input device 10 includes, as its exterior members, the upper cabinetsection 41 and the cover 45 described above. The upper cabinet section41 has openings 43 a (see FIG. 6), and the cover 45 has openings 45 c(see FIG. 7). Inside the openings 43 a and 45 c, the input sticks 31 caneach tilt in the radial direction or tilt and pivot around the centerline of the initial position. As illustrated in FIG. 14A, the inputstick 31 has a pillar portion 31 a and a contact portion 31 b positionedabove the pillar portion 31 a. A lower portion of the pillar portion 31a is supported by a support mechanism, which is not illustrated.

As illustrated in FIG. 14A, a buffer member 46 is provided on inneredges of the openings 43 a and 45 c. The buffer member 46 is made of amaterial different from materials of the inner edges of the openings 43a and 45 c (that is, a material of the upper cabinet section 41 and amaterial of the cover 45) and also different from a material of theinput stick 31 (more specifically, a material of an outer peripheralsurface of the pillar portion 31 a). The buffer member 46 protrudesinward from the inner edges of the openings 43 a and 45 c. Thus, whenthe input stick 31 tilts, the pillar portion 31 a collides with not theinner edges of the openings 43 a and 45 c but the buffer member 46. Withthe buffer member 46, sound generation due to collisions between thepillar portion 31 a of the input stick 31 and the inner edges of theopenings 43 a and 45 c can be prevented, and noise generation in voicedata that is obtained from the microphones 8A and 8B can thus besuppressed.

The material of the buffer member 46 may be a material lower in rigiditythan the materials of the inner edges of the openings 43 a and 45 c andthe material of the input stick 31. The materials of the inner edges ofthe openings 43 a and 45 c, that is, the material of the upper cabinetsection 41, the material of the cover 45, and the material of the pillarportion 31 a of the input stick 31 are an acrylonitrile butadienestyrene (ABS) resin or a polycarbonate resin, for example. The materialof the buffer member 46 is a material containing a resin mixed with anadditive (for example, sliding material), for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, the buffer member 46 isannular. The buffer member 46 has a contact surface 46 a in contact withthe outer peripheral surface of the pillar portion 31 a of the inputstick 31. The contact surface 46 a extends over the entirecircumferences of the openings 43 a and 45 c. This makes it possible tosmoothly operate, in a state in which the input stick 31 tilts to be incontact with the contact surface 46 a, the tilted input stick 31 topivot.

In the example of the input device 10, the buffer member 46 is a membermolded separately from the upper cabinet section 41 and the cover 45.That is, a molding step for molding the buffer member 46, a molding stepfor molding the upper cabinet section 41, and a molding step for moldingthe cover 45 are performed separately. Further, the buffer member 46 isattached to the inner edges of the openings 43 a and 45 c. With thebuffer member 46 molded separately from the upper cabinet section 41 andthe cover 45 in this way, the steps of molding the buffer member 46 andthe upper cabinet section 41 can be simplified.

In the example of the input device 10, the buffer member 46 is attachedto the inner edge of the opening 43 a of the upper cabinet section 41.The buffer member 46 has, as illustrated in FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B, upperengagement portions 46 b and lower engagement portions 46 c thatsandwich the inner edge of the opening 43 a in the upward-downwarddirection. The upper engagement portions 46 b and the lower engagementportions 46 c are alternately arranged in a circumferential direction.The upper engagement portions 46 b are positioned above the inner edgeof the opening 43 a, and the lower engagement portions 46 c arepositioned below the inner edge of the opening 43 a.

The upper engagement portions 46 b each protrude radially outward froman annular portion 46 e of the buffer member 46. On the inner edge ofthe opening 43 a of the upper cabinet section 41, a plurality ofengagement portions 43 b (see FIG. 12) protruding upward are formed. Theengagement portions 43 b are arranged at intervals in thecircumferential direction of the opening 43 a. The upper engagementportion 46 b is fitted between adjacent two engagement portions 43 b.This engagement structure of the buffer member 46 and the inner edge ofthe opening 43 a regulates rotation of the buffer member 46. Forexample, when the input stick 31 in abutment against the buffer member46 is moved in the circumferential direction, the upper engagementportions 46 b of the buffer member 46 collide with the engagementportions 43 b of the opening 43 a, so that the buffer member 46 can beprevented from shifting in position. The interval between adjacent twoengagement portions 43 b desirably matches a width of the upperengagement portion 46 b of the buffer member 46.

Note that, the engagement structure of the buffer member 46 and theinner edge of the opening 43 a is not limited to the example in theinput device 10. For example, a plurality of engagement portionsprotruding inward may be formed at the inner edge of the opening 43 a.The engagement portions may be fitted into the annular portion 46 e ofthe buffer member 46. Also with this structure, the buffer member 46 canbe prevented from shifting in position when the input stick 31 tiltingin the radial direction pivots.

The cover 45 has the openings 45 c in which the input sticks 31 aredisposed. With this structure, the engagement structure between thebuffer member 46 and the inner edge of the opening 43 a of the uppercabinet section 41 (between the upper engagement portions 46 b and theengagement portions 43 b) can be covered by the cover 45. As a result,the appearance of the input device 10 can be further enhanced.

As illustrated in FIG. 14A and FIG. 14B, the edge of the opening 45 c ofthe cover 45 is positioned above the upper engagement portions 46 b ofthe buffer member 46 and the engagement portions 43 b of the uppercabinet section 41. Meanwhile, the annular portion 46 e of the buffermember 46 is positioned on an inner side of the inner edge of theopening 45 c of the cover 45. With this structure, the engagementstructure between the inner edge of the opening 43 a of the uppercabinet section 41 and the buffer member 46 can be prevented by thecover 45 from being exposed.

Unlike the example of the input device 10, the buffer member 46 may beattached to the inner edge of the opening 45 c of the cover 45. In thiscase, the contact surface 46 a, which is an inner surface of the annularportion 46 e of the buffer member 46, preferably protrudes inward fromthe inner edge of the opening 43 a of the upper cabinet section 41.

In still another example, a buffer member may be provided to the inputstick 31. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 15, a buffer member33 may be provided on the outer peripheral surface of the pillar portion31 a of the input stick 31. The buffer member 33 may be made of amaterial different from the material of the pillar portion 31 a, thematerial of the upper cabinet section 41, and the material of the cover45. For example, the material of the buffer member 33 may be a materiallower in rigidity than the materials of these components. The buffermember 33 may be formed together with the pillar portion 31 a bytwo-color molding. Two-color molding is a method of obtaining a moldedarticle by sequentially injecting two different resins into a mold asmaterials. Unlike this, the buffer member 33 may be molded separatelyfrom the pillar portion 31 a and attached to the outer peripheralsurface of the pillar portion 31 a.

[Reduction of Button Operation Sound]

The upper cabinet section 41 has a plurality of openings 44 a (see FIG.6). The input buttons 35 are disposed inside the respective openings 44a. The input buttons 35 are each movable in a direction intersectingwith the upper cabinet section 41, that is, in the upward-downwarddirection. As illustrated in FIG. 17, a switch 36 a is disposed belowthe input button 35. The switch 36 a is made of an elastic material (forexample, rubber), and biases the input button 35 upward toward aninitial position.

The input button 35 has, on its base portion, stopped portions 35 b and35 c (see FIG. 16B) for preventing the input button 35 from popping outof the opening 44 a. The stopped portions 35 b and 35 c are projectedportions protruding from a lower edge of the input button 35 in a radialdirection of the input button 35, for example.

As illustrated in FIG. 16A, the input device 10 includes a buffer member37. A material of the buffer member 37 is different from the material ofthe upper cabinet section 41 and a material of the input button 35. Thematerial of the buffer member 37 is preferably a material lower inrigidity than the material of the upper cabinet section 41 and thematerial of the input button 35. The material of the upper cabinetsection 41 and the material of the input button 35 may be an engineeringplastic, for example, a polycarbonate resin, and the material of thebuffer member 37 may be a rubber, an elastomer, or the like. The buffermember 37 has stopper portions 37 a and 37 b (see FIG. 16B) positionedbetween an edge of the opening 44 a and the stopped portions 35 b and 35c of the input button 35.

When the input button 35 is pressed, the switch 36 a is depressed, sothat an on state is established. When a force pressing the input button35 is released, the input button 35 is pushed up by an elastic force ofthe switch 36 a, with the result that the stopped portions 35 b and 35 ccollide with the respective stopper portions 37 a and 37 b. With thebuffer member 37, sound generation due to collisions between the stoppedportions 35 b and 35 c and the edge of the opening 44 a can beprevented. As a result, noise generation in voice data that is acquiredby the microphones 8A and 8B can be prevented.

As illustrated in FIG. 16B, the stopped portions 35 b and 35 c aredisposed in the circumferential direction of the input button 35 in adistributed manner. With this, the input button 35 can be prevented fromtilting when the stopped portions 35 b and 35 c hit the stopper portions37 a and 37 b. For example, the plurality of stopped portions 35 b and35 c are disposed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

The plurality of input buttons 35 are disposed on the upper surface ofthe held section 10R. Specifically, the four input buttons 35 aredisposed at the end portions of the cross. The input device 10 includesthe buffer member 37 common to the four input buttons 35. That is, thesingle buffer member 37 has the stopper portions 37 a and 37 bcorresponding to each of the four input buttons 35. With this structure,the number of parts can be reduced, and the assembly of the input device10 can thus be simplified. Further, a space for disposing the buffermember 37 can be reduced.

The upper cabinet section 41 may have guide cylinders 44 b extendingdownward at the edges of the openings 44 a. The input button 35 ismovable inside the guide cylinder 44 b in the upward-downward direction.The guide cylinder 44 b has grooves 44 c (see FIG. 16A) into which thestopped portions 35 b and 35 c protruding from the input button 35 inthe radial direction are to be fitted. The stopped portions 35 b and 35c are movable in the upward-downward direction along the grooves 44 c.With this structure, rotation of the input button 35 inside the guidecylinder 44 b is regulated. Thus, the stopped portions 35 b and 35 chave a function of regulating the rotation of the input button 35 and afunction of reducing noise by colliding with the buffer member 37.

The buffer member 37 has a center portion 37 g (see FIG. 16B) positionedat a center of the four input buttons 35 (a center of the four guidecylinders 44 b). The stopped portions 35 b of the four input buttons 35protrude toward the center of the four input buttons 35. The buffermember 37 has, in the center portion 37 g, the four stopper portions 37a corresponding to the respective four input buttons 35. The stoppedportions 35 b of the four input buttons 35 collide with the respectivefour stopper portions 37 a.

Further, the buffer member 37 has annular portions 37 i and 37 jsurrounding an outer side of the guide cylinder 44 b. As illustrated inFIG. 16B, the stopper portions 37 b are formed on the annular portions37 i and 37 j. The stopper portions 37 b are formed at positions awayfrom the stopper portion 37 a in the center portion 37 g.

Note that, the arrangement of the input buttons 35 with the buffermember 37 is not limited to the example in the input device 10. Forexample, the number of input buttons 35 may be two or three. In a casewhere the number of input buttons 35 is two, the buffer member 37 mayhave a center portion between the two input buttons 35, and the stopperportions 37 a may be formed in the center portion.

[Damper of Circuit Board]

The input device 10 includes the vibration motors 5L and 5R disposed onthe left and right held sections 10L and 10R (more specifically, on thegrips 12). The vibration motors 5L and 5R drive in response to aninstruction from the information processing apparatus (video gameconsole), for example, to vibrate the grips 12. The vibration motors 5Land 5R may be linear motors (for example, voice coil motors) or rotarymotors (for example, direct-current (DC) motors). As illustrated in FIG.2, the vibration motors 5L and 5R are held by the frame 51. The frame 51has motor holding portions 51 c in portions accommodated in the left andright grips 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the circuit board 61 is positioned below theframe 51 (first support member) and attached to the frame 51 in theupward-downward direction. The circuit board 61 is attached to the frame51 with a fixture (specifically, screw 69 (see FIG. 5)), for example. Inthe example of the input device 10, the screw 69 is covered by thebattery 62 disposed below the circuit board 61.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, dampers 68 are disposed between the circuitboard 61 and the frame 51. The dampers 68 are each made of an elasticmaterial, for example, a rubber or an elastomer. The damper 68 isdisposed at a position (damper position) away from a position at whichthe screw 69 is disposed (fixed position). As illustrated in FIG. 5, thedampers 68 are located at a plurality of positions surrounding the screw69. In the example of the input device 10, the dampers 68 are disposedat four corner portions of the circuit board 61.

As described above, the input device 10 includes the vibration motors 5Land 5R and the microphones 8A and 8B. When the vibration motors 5L and5R drive to vibrate the circuit board 61 and contact sound is generatedbetween the circuit board 61 and the frame 51, the contact sound isacquired by the microphones 8A and 8B as noise in voice data. Even in acase where the circuit board 61 is fixed to the frame 51 with screws ata plurality of positions, minute gaps may be formed between the circuitboard 61 and the frame 51 due to a difference between a coefficient ofthermal expansion of the circuit board 61 and a coefficient of thermalexpansion of the frame 51. When the vibration motors 5L and 5R drivewith such gaps, contact sound, which is noise, is generated between thecircuit board 61 and the frame 51.

In the example of the input device 10, since the dampers 68 are disposedbetween the circuit board 61 and the frame 51, such noise generation canbe suppressed. In particular, in the example of the input device 10, thedampers 68 are disposed to surround the fixed position (the position ofthe screw 69), so that contact sound generation that occurs when thecircuit board 61 is brought into contact with the frame 51 due to thevibration of the vibration motors 5L and 5R can be effectivelysuppressed. For example, contact sound generation that occurs betweenthe circuit board 61 and the frame 51 when the corner portions of thecircuit board 61 are vibrated can be effectively suppressed.

Note that, as screws provided to the circuit board 61, the single screw69 is sufficient. With this, even in a case where the circuit board 61and the frame 51 are thermally expanded, the screw 69 can be suppressedfrom being loosed due to the thermal expansion. Note that, the damper 68may not be provided at the position at which the screw 69 is provided,that is, the fixed position. At the fixed position, the circuit board 61may be in direct contact with the frame 51. Further, the circuit board61 may have a hole into which a positioning protrusion 51 d formed onthe frame 51 is fitted.

The circuit board 61 has holes 61 b (see FIG. 3). The holes 61 b may beformed at an outer edge of the circuit board 61, for example. That is,an edge of each of the holes 61 b may be partly open. As illustrated inFIG. 18, the damper 68 has a cylindrical body portion 68 a fitted intothe hole 61 b of the circuit board 61. Further, the damper 68 has anupper flange portion 68 b formed on an edge portion (an upper edge) ofthe body portion 68 a, and a lower flange portion 68 c formed on theother edge portion (a lower edge) of the body portion 68 a.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the frame 51 has a projected portion 51 efitted into the cylindrical body portion 68 a. In a case where thevibration motors 5L and 5R drive to relatively vibrate the circuit board61 and the frame 51 in a direction along the circuit board 61, theprojected portion 51 e of the frame 51 collides with the damper 68 inthe direction along the circuit board 61.

Further, as illustrated in FIG. 18, the upper flange portion 68 b issandwiched between the circuit board 61 and the frame 51 in theupward-downward direction. In other words, the upper flange portion 68 bis sandwiched between the circuit board 61 and the frame 51 in anattachment direction of the circuit board 61 and the frame 51. Thus,noise generation due to collisions between parts of the circuit board61, specifically, the corner portions of the circuit board 61 and theframe 51 in the attachment direction of the circuit board 61 and theframe 51 can be suppressed.

In this way, in the example of the input device 10, the damper 68 hasthe portion sandwiched in the attachment direction of the circuit board61 and the frame 51 (the upper flange portion 68 b) and the portionsandwiched in a direction orthogonal to the attachment direction (thedirection along circuit board 61) (the body portion 68 a). With this, acollision between the circuit board 61 and the frame 51 can beeffectively suppressed.

Note that, a shape of the damper 68 is not limited to the example in theinput device 10. For example, the frame 51 may not have the projectedportion 51 e. In this case, the body portion 68 a of the damper 68 maynot be cylindrical. For example, the body portion 68 a may be columnar.The flange portions 68 b and 68 c may be formed at edge portions of thecolumnar body portion 68 a.

The input device 10 includes the lower cabinet section 42 (secondsupport member) on the side opposite to the frame 51 across the circuitboard 61. As illustrated in FIG. 18, the damper 68 has the portionsandwiched between the lower cabinet section 42 and the circuit board61. Specifically, the above-mentioned lower flange portion 68 c issandwiched between the lower cabinet section 42 and the circuit board61. Thus, contact sound generation that occurs between the circuit board61 and the lower cabinet section 42 due to the vibration of the circuitboard 61 can be suppressed.

As illustrated in FIG. 18, the frame 51 has a contact portion 51 f incontact with the upper flange portion 68 b of the damper 68. The lowercabinet section 42 has a contact portion 42 j in contact with the lowerflange portion 68 c of the damper 68. The contact portion 51 f of theframe 51 and the contact portion 42 j of the lower cabinet section 42face each other in the upward-downward direction. Thus, sufficientcontact pressures can be secured between the frame 51 and the damper 68and between the lower cabinet section 42 and the damper 68. In theexample of the input device 10, the contact portion 42 j of the lowercabinet section 42 is a cylindrical portion protruding upward, and anupper edge of the contact portion 42 j is in contact with the lowerflange portion 68 c of the damper 68.

Note that, the input device 10 may include, for each of the plurality ofdampers 68 provided on the circuit board 61, the structure describedwith reference to FIG. 18, that is, the body portion 68 a, the flangeportions 68 b and 68 c, and the contact portions 42 j and 51 f.

As described above, the vibration motors 5L and 5R are disposed in thegrips 12 and positioned at the rear edges of the left and right heldsections 10L and 10R. The circuit board 61 is accommodated in the devicecenter section 10M positioned between the left and right held sections10L and 10R. The circuit board 61 is positioned in front of thevibration motors 5L and 5R when seen from a bottom surface of the inputdevice 10 (see FIG. 5). The dampers 68 are positioned at the cornerportions of the circuit board 61. The damper 68 positioned at each rearcorner portion is positioned between the fixed position at which thescrew 69 is provided and the vibration motor 5L and 5R when seen fromthe bottom surface of the input device 10. In other words, a straightline connecting the screw 69 to the damper 68 intersects with thevibration motor 5L and 5R. With the dampers 68 and the vibration motors5L and 5R disposed in this way, contact sound generation at positionsnear the vibration motors 5L and 5R can be suppressed.

As described above, the vibration motors 5L and 5R are voice coilmotors, for example. In this case, a vibration direction of vibrators(that is, movable portions) of the vibration motors 5L and 5R mayintersect with the attachment direction of the circuit board 61 and theframe 51 (the upward-downward direction). In the example of the inputdevice 10, the vibrator is disposed to vibrate in an extending directionof the grip 12, and vibrates in an oblique forward-rearward direction.Thus, the corner portions of the circuit board 61 can be suppressed frombeing largely vibrated in the attachment direction of the circuit board61 and the frame 51 (the upward-downward direction) when the vibrationmotors 5L and 5R drive.

The input device 10 includes the microphones 8A and 8B disposed in thedevice center section 10M. The microphones 8A and 8B are disposed aboveor below the circuit board 61 to be away from the circuit board 61, andare supported by members different from the circuit board 61 and theframe 51. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the second microphone8B is supported by not the frame 51 but the upper cabinet section 41,and is in contact with the inner surface of the cover 45 through themicrophone holder 9B. Further, the first microphone 8A is supported bythe microphone support portion 55 a formed at the rear edge of thebattery holder 55, which supports the battery 62, and is in abutmentagainst the inner surface of the lower cabinet section 42 through themicrophone holder 9A.

Note that, the support structure of the circuit board 61 is not limitedto the example in the input device 10. For example, the input device 10may not include the frame 51. In this case, the circuit board 61 may beattached to the lower cabinet section 42. Further, one of the flangeportions of the damper 68 may be sandwiched between the lower cabinetsection 42 and the circuit board 61, and the other flange portion of thedamper 68 may be sandwiched between the upper cabinet section 41 and thecircuit board 61.

[Light Emitting System]

The upper surface of the input device 10 has a right region in which theinput buttons 35 are disposed (the upper surface of the right heldsection 10R), a left region in which the directional pad 19 is disposed(the upper surface of the left held section 10L), and a center regionthat is a region between the right and left regions. In the example ofthe input device 10, the upper surface of the input member 20 forms thecenter region. The input member 20 is positioned in a front portion ofthe device center section 10M, and a front edge of the input member 20forms a front edge of the input device 10. A frontmost portion of theinput member 20 is bent downward to form a front surface of the inputdevice 10. The upper cabinet section 41 has an opening 41 h (see FIG.6). The input member 20 is disposed inside the opening 41 h of the uppercabinet section 41.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the input member 20 includes a surface panel21 forming the upper surface of the input device 10 and a circuit board22 attached to a lower surface of the surface panel 21. The touch sensoris disposed between the circuit board 22 and the surface panel 21. Theinput member 20 may include a frame 24 attached to the surface panel 21to cover a lower side of the circuit board 22.

Further, the input member 20 is supported to be movable in theupward-downward direction, thereby functioning as a button. In theexample of the input device 10, the switch 23 is mounted on a lowersurface of the circuit board 22. Meanwhile, the frame 51 disposed belowthe input member 20 has a press portion 51 g protruding upward at aposition corresponding to the switch 23. When the input member 20 ispressed, the press portion 51 g presses the switch 23. The switch 23 maybe mounted on the circuit board 61. In this case, the input member 20may have a press portion.

Note that, the structure of the input member 20 is not limited to theexample in the input device 10. For example, the input member 20 may beconfigured with the touch sensor but without the button function. Incontrast, the input member 20 may be configured with the button functionbut without the touch sensor.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the input device 10 has a light emittingregion Es formed along an outer edge of the input member 20. The lightemitting region Es has a plurality of first light emitting portions E1and second light emitting portions E2. The plurality of first lightemitting portions E1 are light emitting portions configured to indicateidentification information assigned to a plurality of input devicesconnected to the information processing apparatus. The second lightemitting portions E2 are light emitting portions configured to emitlight on the basis of information different from the identificationinformation. A light emitting surface of a light diffusing member 71surrounding the outer edge of the input member 20 (see FIG. 2), which isdescribed later, forms the light emitting region Es.

In an example illustrated in FIG. 22A, the plurality of input devices 10are connected to the information processing apparatus 90 that is a videogame console. The information processing apparatus 90 includes a controlapparatus 91 and a communication apparatus 92. The communicationapparatus 92 is an interface configured to enable wireless or wiredcommunication with the input devices 10. The control apparatus 91includes a microprocessor, and includes an identification informationassignment unit 91 a as its function as illustrated in FIG. 22B.

The identification information assignment unit 91 a assigns, to theplurality of input devices 10, identification numbers as identificationinformation identifying each of the input devices 10, in accordance withrules defined in advance. The identification information may be assignedby system software of the information processing apparatus 90 on thebasis of information associated with users using the input devices 10,or on the basis of information identifying the input devices 10themselves. Further, the identification information may be numbers,color information, character strings, or combinations of two or more ofthem. The identification information may take any form as long as beingunique information specifying the input devices 10 or the users. Theinput device 10 receives an identification number assigned thereto fromthe information processing apparatus 90, and causes the first lightemitting portions E1 to emit light on the basis of the identificationnumber. For example, the input device 10 having 1 assigned as itsidentification number causes one of the plurality of first lightemitting portions E1 (for example, the first light emitting portion E1positioned at the center) to emit light. Further, the input device 10having 2 assigned as its identification number causes two of theplurality of first light emitting portions E1 (for example, the twofirst light emitting portions E1 opposite to each other across thecenter) to emit light. The input device 10 selectively drives aplurality of first light sources S1 (see FIG. 19) corresponding to therespective first light emitting portions E1.

Meanwhile, the second light emitting portions E2 are the light emittingportions configured to emit light on the basis of the informationdifferent from the identification information (identification numbers)as described above. The information different from the identificationinformation is, for example, a command that is generated according to asituation in a video game being executed, and is transmitted from theinformation processing apparatus 90 executing the game program. Asillustrated in FIG. 22B, the control apparatus 91 of the informationprocessing apparatus 90 includes a game processing unit 91 b as itsfunction. When executing the game program, the game processing unit 91 bgenerates a moving image as a result of the execution, displays themoving image on a display apparatus, which is not illustrated, andtransmits, to the input device 10, a light emission command for thesecond light emitting portions E2. On receipt of the light emissioncommand, the input device 10 causes the second light emitting portionsE2 to emit light. The input device 10 drives a second light source S2(see FIG. 20) corresponding to the second light emitting portions E2.The second light source S2 may include, for example, a plurality oflight emitting diodes (LEDs) of different emission colors so as to beable to emit light of any color. That is, emission states of the secondlight emitting portions E2 are controlled on the basis of controlinformation for the input device 10 generated by an application programbeing executed by the information processing apparatus 90, depending ona state of the application program. Thus, the second light emittingportions E2 of the input device 10 at the hands of the user can becaused to emit light with a color and a timing suitable for an effectproduced in the application being executed in synchronization with astatus of an image displayed or sound output by the application.Further, another example of the information different from theidentification information is information associated with a state of theinput device 10. The input device 10 may monitor a connection statebetween the input device 10 and the information processing apparatus 90or a state of charge of the battery, for example, and cause the secondlight emitting portions E2 to emit light on the basis of controlinformation generated by the input device 10 itself according to themonitored state. Further, the information associated with the state ofthe input device 10 may be light emission control information for thesecond light emitting portions E2 that is generated according to thestate of the input device 10 monitored by the system software of theinformation processing apparatus 90 and is transmitted to the inputdevice 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the first light emitting portions E1 and thesecond light emitting portions E2 are provided in the light emittingregion Es along the outer edge of the input member 20 (center region).Thus, visibility of both the first light emitting portions E1 configuredto indicate the identification information and the second light emittingportions E2 configured to indicate the information different from theidentification information can be enhanced.

The light emitting region Es surrounds the outer edge of the inputmember 20. As illustrated in FIG. 19, in the example of the input device10, the light emitting region Es extends along left, rear, and rightedges of the input member 20. Thus, the light emitting portions E1 andE2 can be flexibly positioned. Unlike the example of the input device10, the light emitting region Es may be formed along left, front, andright edges of the input member 20, or may be formed along the fouredges (left, rear, right, and front edges) of the input member 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the plurality of first light emittingportions E1 may be arranged in line along the rear edge of the inputmember 20. With this, the user can easily grasp an identification numberindicated by the first light emitting portions E1. The width of theinput member 20 in the left-right direction may be larger than the widththereof in the forward-rearward direction. Thus, the rear edge of theinput member 20 is longer than the right and left edges of the inputmember 20. Thus, an interval between adjacent two first light emittingportions E1 can be easily secured.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, the second light emitting portions E2 may beprovided along the left and right edges of the input member 20. Withthis, the outer edge of the input member 20 is surrounded by the lightemitting portions E1 and E2, so that the visibility of the lightemitting portions E1 and E2 can be enhanced, and the appearance of theinput device 10 can also be enhanced.

Note that, the arrangement of the light emitting portions E1 and E2 isnot limited to the example in the input device 10. For example, theplurality of first light emitting portions E1 may be disposed along eachof the left and right edges of the input member 20, and the second lightemitting portion E2 may be disposed along the rear edge of the inputmember 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the first light sources S1 configured tocause the first light emitting portions E1 to emit light are provided tothe input member 20. More specifically, the first light sources S1 aremounted on the circuit board 22 of the input member 20. The plurality offirst light sources S1 are arranged along a rear edge of the circuitboard 22 (see FIG. 19). The first light sources S1 each include an LED.The first light source S1 may be a monochrome LED, or may include aplurality of LEDs of different emission colors so as to be able to emitlight of any color. The frame 24 of the input member 20 has throughholes 24 a at positions corresponding to the first light sources S1.Light from the first light source S1 passes through the through hole 24a to enter the light diffusing member 71 to illuminate the lightdiffusing member 71. This illuminated portion is the first lightemitting portion E1.

Meanwhile, the second light source S2 configured to cause the secondlight emitting portions E2 to emit light is mounted on the circuit board61 below and away from the input member 20 as illustrated in FIG. 20.Light from the second light source S2 is guided to left and right sideportions 71 b of the light diffusing member 71 through a light guidemember 72. The second light source S2 is disposed at a center of thecircuit board 61 in the left-right direction. As illustrated in FIG. 2and FIG. 20, the light guide member 72 has, at its rear edge, anincident surface 72 a positioned in front of the second light source S2.The light guide member 72 has a right light guide portion 72 b extendingin a forward right direction from the incident surface 72 a, and a leftlight guide portion 72 c extending in a forward left direction from theincident surface 72 a. As illustrated in FIG. 21A, front portions of theleft and right light guide portions 72 c and 72 b are positioned belowthe left and right side portions 71 b of the light diffusing member 71.Light from the left and right light guide portions 72 c and 72 b enterthe side portions 71 b of the light diffusing member 71 to illuminatethe side portions 71 b. Thus, the side portions 71 b function as thesecond light emitting portions E2.

With the use of the light guide member 72, the second light emittingportions E2 provided along the left and right edges of the input member20 can be caused to emit light by the single second light source S2, andthe number of parts of the input device 10 can thus be reduced.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 21A, the front portions of the leftand right light guide portions 72 c and 72 b are supported by areflection member 73. The reflection member 73 is disposed under thelight guide portions 72 c and 72 b, and reflects light from lower sidesof the light guide portions 72 c and 72 b upward. Lower surfaces of thelight guide portions 72 c and 72 b may have a plurality of recessedportions 21 e (see FIG. 21A) for reflecting light travelling through thelight guide portions 72 c and 72 b upward.

As illustrated in FIG. 21A, the frame 51 is disposed on upper sides ofthe light guide portions 72 c and 72 b. The frame 51 has through holes51 i. Light from the upper sides of the light guide portions 72 c and 72b passes through the through holes 51 i to enter the side portions 71 bof the light diffusing member 71 disposed on the upper side of the frame51.

In this way, in the input device 10, the light sources S1 and S2 areseparately attached to the circuit board 22 of the input member 20 andthe circuit board 61. Thus, the light sources S1 and S2 can be moreflexibly positioned, with the result that the light emitting portions E1and E2 can be flexibly positioned.

Note that, the arrangement of the light sources S1 and S2 is not limitedto the example in the input device 10. For example, in a case where thefirst light emitting portions E1 are provided along the left and rightedges of the input member 20, the first light sources S1 may be mountedon left and right edges of the circuit board 22 of the input member 20.In this case, the second light source S2 may be disposed along the rearedge of the circuit board 22.

[Light Diffusing Member]

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the light diffusing member 71 has arectangular frame shape and surrounds the outer edge of the input member20. The light diffusing member 71 has a rear portion 71 a disposed alongthe rear edge of the input member 20, the side portions 71 b disposedalong the left and right edges of the input member 20, and a frontportion 71 c disposed along the front edge of the input member 20. Thelight diffusing member 71 is integrally formed from a resin, forexample. The light diffusing member 71 is a member configured tointernally diffuse incident light and emit the light from a wide rangeof the light diffusing member 71.

A shape of the light diffusing member 71 is not limited to theabove-mentioned one. The light diffusing member 71 may not have thefront portion 71 c, for example. Further, the light diffusing member 71may not be integrally formed. For example, the left and right sideportions 71 b of the light diffusing member 71 may be separately molded.

As illustrated in FIG. 21B, the side portion 71 b of the light diffusingmember 71 has a light emitting surface 71 e that emits light. The leftand right side portions 71 b each have the light emitting surface 71 e.The light emitting surface 71 e has a first region 71 g exposed in a gapbetween an inner edge 41 i of the opening 41 h formed in the uppercabinet section 41 and the outer edge of the input member 20, and asecond region 71 h positioned on the inner side of the outer edge of theinput member 20 and below a peripheral portion 21 a of the input member20. With this structure, an area (width) of the light emitting surface71 e can be increased without enlarging the gap between the inner edge41 i of the opening 41 h of the upper cabinet section 41 and the outeredge of the input member 20. As a result, the light emitting surface 71e can be made conspicuous, and the appearance of the input device 10 canbe further enhanced.

As illustrated in FIG. 21B, a gap G1 is preferably formed between thelight emitting surface 71 e and the outer edge of the input member 20 inthe upward-downward direction. With this, the user easily sees a loweredge 71 i of the light emitting surface 71 e. Further, the gap G1 allowsthe input member 20 to move in the upward-downward direction. Thus, theinput member 20 can function as the press button.

As illustrated in FIG. 21B, an upper portion 71 k of the light diffusingmember 71 has a slope 71 j facing the inner edge of the opening 41 h ofthe upper cabinet section 41. The gap G1 between the light emittingsurface 71 e and the outer edge of the input member 20 is larger than agap between the slope 71 j and the inner edge of the opening 41 h.

As illustrated in FIG. 21B, a top portion of the side portion 71 b ofthe light diffusing member 71 (an upper edge of the light emittingsurface 71 e) is lower than the upper surface of the input member 20 (anupper surface of the surface panel 21). Further, the top portion of theside portion 71 b is lower than an upper surface of the upper cabinetsection 41. Thus, a groove is formed between the outer edge of the inputmember 20 and the inner edge 41 i of the opening 41 h of the uppercabinet section 41. The input member 20 is surrounded by this groove.

As illustrated in FIG. 21B, the light emitting surface 71 e tilts in thefirst region 71 g and the second region 71 h to extend downward towardthe inner side of the outer edge of the input member 20. Thus, the usercan see the lower edge 71 i of the light emitting surface 71 e bytilting the input device 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 21B, the peripheral portion 21 a of the inputmember 20 may have a slope 21 b facing the tilted light emitting surface71 e. With this, the user easily sees the lower edge 71 i of the lightemitting surface 71 e.

The light diffusing member 71 has the upper portion 71 k having thelight emitting surface 71 e and a wall portion 71 m extending downwardfrom the upper portion 71 k. The wall portion 71 m extends downwardbeyond a lower surface of the frame 24 of the input member 20, reachingthe frame 51 having the circuit board 61 and the like attached thereto.Light that has passed through the through hole 51 i of the frame 51enters the wall portion 71 m, thereby illuminating the light emittingsurface 71 e of the light diffusing member 71. Note that, alight-shielding member 74 may be provided on an exterior surface of thewall portion 71 m. The light-shielding member 74 can prevent light fromleaking from unintentional positions. A reflection member may beprovided on the wall portion 71 m instead of the light-shielding member74 or in addition to the light-shielding member 74.

As described above, the input member 20 is movable in theupward-downward direction and functions as the button. Meanwhile, thelight diffusing member 71 is fixed to the upper cabinet section 41.Thus, when the input member 20 is pressed, the light emitting surface 71e does not move. With this, for example, an effect that the input member20 moves in the upward-downward direction in the light can be provided.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the light diffusing member 71 has attachedportions 71 n laterally extending from the side portions 71 b, forexample. The attached portions 71 n are attached to a lower surface ofthe upper cabinet section 41 with fixtures, for example, screws. Theattachment structure of the light diffusing member 71 is not limited tothe example in the input device 10. The light diffusing member 71 may beattached to the frame 51.

As illustrated in FIG. 21A, the upper portion 71 k of the side portion71 b of the light diffusing member 71 has an inner wall portion 71 phaving the light emitting surface 71 e and extending obliquely downwardfrom a top portion of the upper portion 71 k. The frame 24 of the inputmember 20 has stopped portions 24 b laterally protruding. A lower edgeof the inner wall portion 71 p is positioned on an upper side of thestopped portion 24 b to function as a stopper portion configured toprevent the input member 20 from coming out upward. By using the lightdiffusing member 71 as the stopper portion in this way, the number ofparts can be reduced.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the rear portion 71 a of the light diffusingmember 71 may also have a projected portion 71 r that functions as astopper portion. The projected portion 71 r is engaged with a rear edgeof the frame 24 to regulate the upward motion of the input member 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, the front portion 71 c of the light diffusingmember 71 is positioned in front of the input member 20. In more detail,the front portion 71 c is positioned in front of the frame 24 of theinput member 20. With this, the front portion 71 c of the lightdiffusing member 71 functions as a stopper configured to prevent theinput member 20 from coming out forward.

In the example of the input device 10, the front portion 71 c of thelight diffusing member 71 is exposed forward through a gap between afront edge 21 f of the input member 20 and an edge of the cabinet 40 (anupper edge 42 d of the lower cabinet section 42). Light entering theside portions 71 b of the light diffusing member 71 may be diffusedinside the light diffusing member 71 to illuminate the front portion 71c.

[Conclusion]

As described above, the input device 10 includes the cabinet 40including the upper cabinet section 41 and the lower cabinet section 42that are combined in the upward-downward direction, the screws 49 bfixing the upper cabinet section 41 to the lower cabinet section 42, andthe cover 45 attached to the exterior surface of the cabinet 40 to coverthe screws 49 b. The exterior surface of the cabinet 40 has the exposedregion adjacent to the cover side portions 45L and 45R and not coveredby the cover 45. The step N is formed between the exposed region of theexterior surface of the cabinet 40 and the exterior surfaces of thecover side portions 45L and 45R, and the exterior surface of the cover45 is recessed compared to the exposed region of the exterior surface ofthe cabinet 40. With this input device, the screws 49 b are covered bythe cover 45, so that the appearance of the input device 10 can beenhanced. Further, since the exterior surface of the cover 45 isrecessed compared to the exterior surface of the cabinet 40, theobserver looking at the input device 10 hardly recognizes the cover 45as a cover. Thus, the appearance of the input device 10 can be furtherenhanced.

Further, the input device 10 includes the left held section 10L servingas the left portion of the input device 10, the right held section 10Rserving as the right portion of the input device 10, the cabinet 40including the upper cabinet section 41 and the lower cabinet section 42that are combined in the upward-downward direction, the screws 49 bfixing the upper cabinet section 41 to the lower cabinet section 42, andthe cover 45 attached to the exterior surface of the cabinet 40 to coverthe screws (fixtures) 49 b. The screws 49 b are provided to therespective left and right held sections 10L and 10R. The cover 45includes the fixture cover 45 a covering the screw 49 b in the rightheld section 10R, the fixture cover 45 a covering the screw 49 b in theleft held section 10L, and the center portion 45M connecting the leftand right fixture covers 45 a. With the input device 10, the screws 49 bare covered by the cover 45, so that the appearance of the input device10 can be enhanced. Further, with the input device 10, the number ofparts can be reduced.

The input device 10 includes the first microphone 8A, the cabinet 40accommodating the first microphone 8A, the first sound hole V1 formed inthe cabinet 40 and connected to the first microphone 8A, and the inputbuttons 35, the directional pad 19, and the like serving as the inputmembers that the user operates with his/her fingers. The exteriorsurface of the cabinet 40 (the exterior surface of the lower cabinetsection 42) has one or a plurality of wall portions (the inner surfaceof the protection recessed portion 42 f or a side surface of theprotection projected portion 42 h) surrounding the first sound hole V1.With the input device 10, a possibility that the opening edge of thefirst sound hole V1 is entirely covered by the fingers is reduced, andnoise due to the fingers in contact with the first sound hole V1 canthus be reduced.

Further, the input device 10 includes the cabinet 40 having the openings43 a, the input sticks 31 movable inside the openings, and the buffermembers 46. The buffer members 46 are each provided to one of the inneredge of the opening 43 a and the outer peripheral surface of the inputstick 31, and is made of a material different from the material of theinner edge of the opening 43 a and the material of the outer peripheralsurface of the input stick 31. With the input device 10, noisegeneration in voice data that is acquired by the microphones 8A and 8Bcan be suppressed.

Further, the input device 10 includes the upper cabinet section 41having the openings, the input buttons 35 positioned inside the openingsand movable in the upward-downward direction, the switches 36 a made ofan elastic material and configured to bias the input buttons 35 towardtheir initial positions, and the buffer member 37. The input buttons 35each have the stopped portions 35 b and 35 c configured to prevent theinput button 35 from popping out of the opening. The buffer member 37 ismade of a material different from the material of the upper cabinetsection 41 and the material of the input button 35, and has the stopperportions 37 a and 37 b positioned between the inner edge of the openingof the upper cabinet section 41 and the stopped portions 35 b and 35 cof the input button 35. With the input device 10, noise generation dueto operation sound from the input buttons 35 in voice data that isacquired by the microphones 8A and 8B can be effectively suppressed.

Further, in the input device 10, the dampers 68 are disposed between thecircuit board 61 and the frame 51. With the input device 10, noisegeneration in voice data that is acquired by the microphones 8A and 8Bcan be suppressed.

The input member 20 is disposed in the center region of the uppersurface of the input device 10. The upper surface of the input device 10has the light emitting region Es formed along the outer edge of theinput member 20. The light emitting region has the first light emittingportions E1 configured to indicate the identification informationassigned to the plurality of input devices 10 connected to theinformation processing apparatus, and the second light emitting portionsE2 configured to emit light on the basis of the information differentfrom the identification information. With this, the visibility of thefirst light emitting portions E1 and the second light emitting portionsE2 can be enhanced.

The input device 10 includes the upper cabinet section 41 having theopening, the input member 20 that is disposed inside the opening and hasthe upper surface to be touched by the user with his/her fingers, andthe light diffusing member 71 disposed along the outer edge of the inputmember 20 and having the light emitting surface 71 e. The light emittingsurface 71 e has the first region 71 g exposed through the gap betweenthe inner edge of the opening of the upper cabinet section 41 and theouter edge of the input member 20, and the second region 71 h positionedon the inner side of the outer edge of the input member 20 and below theperipheral portion 21 a of the input member 20. With this, theconspicuity of the light emitting surface 71 e can be enhanced withoutchanging the gap between the outer edge of the input member 20 and theinner edge of the opening 41 h, and the appearance of the input device10 can be further enhanced.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. An input device comprising: a first microphone;an exterior member that accommodates the first microphone; and a firstsound hole penetrating the exterior member to be connected to the firstmicrophone, wherein an exterior surface of the exterior member has oneor a plurality of wall portions that surround the first sound hole. 2.The input device according to claim 1, wherein the exterior surface ofthe exterior member has a recessed portion, and an inner surface of therecessed portion serves as the wall portion.
 3. The input deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the exterior surface of the exteriormember has one or a plurality of projected portions that surround thefirst sound hole, and side surfaces of the one or plurality of projectedportions serve as the wall portions.
 4. The input device according toclaim 1, further comprising: a region surrounded by the one or pluralityof wall portions, wherein a size of the region in one of two orthogonaldirections is smaller than a size of the region in the other of the twoorthogonal directions.
 5. The input device according to claim 4, whereinthe size of the region in the one of the two orthogonal directions issmaller than 3.0 mm, and the size of the region in the other of the twoorthogonal directions is larger than 7.0 mm.
 6. The input deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein the size of the region in the one of thetwo orthogonal directions is larger than twice a size of the first soundhole, and the size of the region in the other of the two orthogonaldirections is smaller than twice the size of the first sound hole. 7.The input device according to claim 1, further comprising: a regionsurrounded by the one or plurality of wall portions, wherein a size ofthe region in one of two orthogonal directions is larger than a size ofthe first microphone in the one of the two orthogonal directions.
 8. Theinput device according to claim 1, wherein the first sound hole isformed in a lower surface of the input device.
 9. The input deviceaccording to claim 8, further comprising: a left input member and aright input member that are separated from each other in a left-rightdirection and operated with a finger; and a center section positionedbetween the left input member and the right input member and having thefirst sound hole, wherein a region surrounded by the one or plurality ofwall portions is elongated in one of the left-right direction and aforward-rearward direction.
 10. The input device according to claim 1,further comprising: a second microphone; and a second sound holepenetrating the exterior member to be connected to the secondmicrophone.
 11. The input device according to claim 10, furthercomprising: a region surrounded by the one or plurality of wallportions, wherein a size of the region is larger than a size of thesecond sound hole.